There is something to be said from ordering an Android device with Google's own branding. For one, you do not have to worry about a bunch of third-party junk being pre-installed and custom overlays—Google phones deliver an unadulterated Android experience. You also get immediate access to new Android builds. Those perks help to drive sales of Google's Pixel handsets, and its second generation Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are selling especially well with twice as many pre-orders.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated during an earnings call for Google's parent company Alphabet that pre-orders for the Pixel 2 on day one were double what they were last year for the first generation Pixel phones. The dramatic jump in demand can be seen as confirmation that Google is on the right track, in particular with its decision to focus on premium products rather than going the budget route.

"We’re investing more in marketing. We’re launching in more countries. And we’re offering these devices in more retailers.
And we’re already seeing results. Pre-orders of Pixel on day one this year were more than double what they were last year," Pichai said.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are a couple of high-end handsets powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 SoC and 4GB of RAM, with 64GB of 128GB of onboard storage. Functionally they are the same, save for the display—the Pixel 2 boasts a 5-inch screen with a 1920x1080 resolution, and the Pixel 2 XL kicks things up a notch with a 6-inch panel and a 2880x1440 resolution. While not our favorite Android handsets, they do boast a great design with solid build quality and performance.

Pichai also touched on the acquisition of HTC's smartphone team, which built the new Pixel phones, for $1.1 billion. He called it a "win-win construct," noting that it allows HTC to focus on its phones and other products. he also said that "this deal lays the foundation for our continued efforts next year."